PRIO Research Director Louise Olsson was interviewed by forskning.no about an integrated Nordic region in NATO and gender equality.
With Sweden and Finland's entry into NATO, Olsson highlights that an integrated Nordic region in NATO presents an opportunity to advance equality and prioritize and coordinate gender perspectives in defense planning.
This is central as, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, total defense has emerged as a core concern in Nordic security debates. This emphasizes that the entire society must be capable of mobilizing for preparedness. As gender is a fundamental organizing structure in every society, it is difficult to have effective preparation without a fact and research-based approach to defense. Hence, to ensure an effective total defense, it is essential to critically examine how aspects related to gender equality – such as division of labor, risks of violence and threat management, and social responsibilities - are considered in decision-making processes and defense strategies, according to Olsson. For the defense to effectively protect society, it must understand and mirror the society it aims to safeguard. Now is also the time to ensure that women personnel can be fully integrated, an effort which goes beyond addressing sexual harassment within the defense sector.
In the policy brief “The Nordics in NATO: Women, Peace and Security and Regional Defense”, you can read more about the opportunities and challenges associated with gender equality within Nordic defense cooperation.
